Where does “enlightenen” come from?
enlightenen (Middle English) comes from Old English inlīhtan, from Proto-Germanic inliuhtijaną, from Proto-Germanic liuhtijaną, from Proto-Indo-European lewḱ-, from Proto-Indo-European lewk- — bright; to shine; to see.
Ancestry of “enlightenen”, step by step
enlightenen traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Old English inlīhtan
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | inlīhtan | to illuminate, enlighten |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | inliuhtijaną | to enlighten, illumine |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | liuhtijaną | to give light, shine |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | lewḱ- | lynx |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | lewk- | bright; to shine; to see |
via Middle English lightnen
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | lightnen | to enlighten, illuminate |